Method and system for proxy tracking of third party interactions

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system is operable to: receive a tracking event from a client, recognize tracking specific parameters in the tracking event, generate a tracking entry corresponding to the tracking event, use a tracking service API to send the tracking entry to a second server, and redirect the client to an intended target corresponding to the tracking event.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 publishing content on a publisher website; 
 receiving a tracking event from a client at the publisher website, the tracking event corresponding to user activity on the publisher website; 
 recognizing, by use of a processor, tracking specific parameters in the tracking event; 
 generating a tracking entry corresponding to the tracking event; 
 generating a simulated request to simulate a request made from the client directly to an advertising server as a result of the tracking event, the simulated request including the tracking entry; 
 using a tracking service interface to send the simulated request including the tracking entry from the publisher website to the advertising server, the tracking service interface using Uniform Resource Locator (URL)-encoded parameters to convey the tracking entry, the URL-encoded parameters including a tracking partner identifier and a target location identifier; 
 using the tracking entry to credit a tracking partner corresponding to the tracking partner identifier for the user activity on the publisher website; and 
 redirecting the client from the publisher website to the target location corresponding to the target location identifier. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including using a tracking service application programming interface (API) to send the tracking entry to a third server. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the third server is an affiliate payment server. 
     
     
       4. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 publish content on a publisher website; 
 receive a tracking event from a client at the publisher website, the tracking event corresponding to user activity on the publisher website; 
 recognize tracking specific parameters in the tracking event; 
 generate a tracking entry corresponding to the tracking event; 
 generate a simulated request to simulate a request made from the client directly to an advertising server as a result of the tracking event, the simulated request including the tracking entry; 
 use a tracking service interface to send the simulated request including the tracking entry from the publisher website to the advertising server, the tracking service interface using Uniform Resource Locator (URL)-encoded parameters to convey the tracking entry, the URL-encoded parameters including a tracking partner identifier and a target location identifier; 
 use the tracking entry to credit a tracking partner corresponding to the tracking partner identifier for the user activity on the publisher website; and 
 redirect the client from the publisher website to the target location corresponding to the target location identifier. 
 
     
     
       5. The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 4  further operable to use a tracking service application programming interface (API) to send the tracking entry to a third server. 
     
     
       6. The article of manufacture as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the third server is an affiliate payment server. 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory coupled to the processor to store information related to a tracking event; and 
 a tracking service component operably coupled with the processor and the memory, operable to publish content on a publisher website, receive a tracking event from a client at the publisher website, the tracking event corresponding to user activity on the publisher website, recognize tracking specific parameters in the tracking event, generate a tracking entry corresponding to the tracking event, generate a simulated request to simulate a request made from the client directly to an advertising server as a result of the tracking event, the simulated request including the tracking entry, use a tracking service interface to send the simulated request including the tracking entry from the publisher website to the advertising server, the tracking service interface using Uniform Resource Locator (URL)-encoded parameters to convey the tracking entry, the URL-encoded parameters including a tracking partner identifier and a target location identifier, use the tracking entry to credit a tracking partner corresponding to the tracking partner identifier for the user activity on the publisher website, and redirect the client from the publisher website to the target location corresponding to the target location identifier. 
 
     
     
       8. The system as claimed in  claim 7  further operable to use a tracking service application programming interface (API) to send the tracking entry to a third server. 
     
     
       9. The system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the third server is an affiliate payment server.